Melissa Hepburn

Melissa Hepburn is an integrative counsellor who helps people facing stress, anxiety, grief and trauma. She also supports clients with LGBT concerns and relationship difficulties. She is registered with the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP).

Her early work was in a bereavement service, supporting people after loss. That role taught her practical ways to sit with grief and help people find a path forward. She also has experience with post-traumatic stress and anxiety, and with gender dysphoria.

Melissa aims to be non-judgemental and open-minded in sessions. She focuses on creating a comfortable space so people can speak honestly. Empathy and steady listening are central to how she works.

She uses an integrative approach, drawing on evidence-based techniques to suit each person. Sessions are shaped around what the client needs, whether that means exploring past events, building coping skills, or working on relationships. Therapy is a collaborative process between counsellor and client.

Across four years of practice, Melissa has worked with individuals from differing backgrounds and with varied concerns, including body image, chronic illness, addiction, and social anxiety. She accepts international clients and runs sessions in English. For people worried about starting therapy, she aims to keep the first steps simple and straightforward.

Therapeutic approaches and online working

Melissa uses an integrative approach that draws on evidence-based therapeutic techniques. One common strand is trauma-informed work, which focuses on helping people manage flashbacks, intrusive memories and strong emotional reactions by pacing material and teaching grounding skills. Another element is grief-focused support, which helps people name and sit with loss while finding practical ways to re-establish routines and meaning in daily life.

Finding the right approach is part of the work. Melissa will discuss options with each person and agree together what to try first. She adapts methods to fit the client's goals, pace and life circumstances so sessions feel workable and purposeful.

Online therapy can make it easier to fit sessions into a busy week and reduces travel time. It also lets people join from different locations, which is helpful for international clients. The biography does not list specific session formats, so confirm current options before booking. The focus is on practical benefits - easier scheduling, less time lost to commuting, and the ability to have regular conversations that build over time.